Gay marriage passes in NYS

An excerpt from another conversation. In light of recent news, i feel this post is appropriate:

(this post will probably be very similar to this one that i wrote)

i think i differ from most bible believing christians in this respect. I'm ambivalent about this decision. All this bill does is change how the state defines marriage. The state is not the church. The state has not rewritten what the bible says.

When my fiance and I marry (yeah, i'm engaged these days XD), our pastor will officiate the ceremony and we will be married. Our vows will be no less binding in the eyes of the Lord if we decide against seeking a marriage certificate from the state.

If we choose to seek the financial and civil benefits that the state confers upon those who it deems to be married, we will sign up. That the state defines marriage as a union between two people of the same sex does not mean that marriage is a union between two people of the same sex. God has spoken. Whatever man has to say is nothing more than conjecture.

I'm ambivalent about this decision because i believe what the bible has to say about sexual immorality. This decision will only further legitimize sexual immorality in our society. The ambivalence enters into the equation when i consider the fact that there are people who have been in committed relationships to whom the SECULAR state denies basic rights.

Marriage is not a right, but seeing a loved one in the hospital should be...so should death/estate benefits...and the opportunity to extend health coverage.

That the state calls civil unions "marriage" is nothing more than semantics. The definition of marriage has not been changed by this legislation any more than God's existence ceases when a person professes atheism. #justsayin

grace through faith

Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Faith in God is inextricably linked with the fight for personal holiness. It is not the case that people are saved by grace and progressively sanctified by works, but rather, people are saved by grace through faith AND they are progressively sanctified by grace through faith.

The works that accompany one's saving faith are inextricably linked with their belief. If i believe that God is God, then that belief MUST have an impact on the way that i live my life. Not to say that sinless perfection follows a confession of faith, but rather to say that alongside belief in God is a growing knowledge of him and a growing knowledge of him is accompanied by a growing knowledge of what a terrible thing sin is.

This stands in direct contradiction to a belief that one can profess faith in God while still living in willful and persistent sin with no desire for repentance. I don't say this in an accusatory tone, but rather i say this as both a reminder/exhortation to myself and all others to seek, grow in knowledge of and to treasure the Lord.

Open Book

One of my favorite Christian Rappers:

Emmanuel Lambert aka DA Truth. His music really encouraged me in my walk. A few years back he found himself stepping down from ministry because of willful and persistent sin in his personal life. Some would describe it as a big fall (if i were a charismatic and expressive preacher, i would say something like "OH, but a big fall means a big restoration! *organ riff*) :o)

I was listening to a song of his from his 3rd album (Open Book) called "who am I?" while driving in my car yesterday and the chorus stood out to me:

Who am I?
Am I more like Cain full of hatred to my brother to slain?
Who am I?
Or am I more like Jezebel sexual in all my ways?
Who am I?
Or am I more like Mary pure and holy 'till I lay in the grave?
Who am I?
Or am I more like Abel, able to please God with my ways?

The thing that came to mind is that although this song is helpful to believers for the purpose of introspection/self-examination, we need to keep in mind that our identity is hidden in Christ. Though lives may have been lived that were full of willful and persistent sin, those in Christ when asked about who they are can joyfully respond "A sinner, saved by grace".

We certainly don't want a book about our lives to show that we are poor examples, but we must remember that in God's book - the life of the one who was and is perfect is credited to our account. :o)